Phonograph with three-speed turntable driving mechanism



A. PHONOGRAP Sept. 1, 1953 K. TATEISH H WITH THREE SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1952 Z zcerzz $5 Sept. 1, 1953 A. PHONOGRAPH WITH THREE SPEED K TATEISHI 2,650,504

TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1. 1953 A. K. TATEISHI 5 PHONOGRAPH WITH THREE SPEED TURNTABLE DRIVING MECHANISM 7 Filed June 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m i4; 2/ .7 32 I, I I 44:

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- v jQ'ZZS/EZ Patented Sept. 1, 1953 PHONOGRAPH WITH THREE-SPEED TURN- TABLE DRIVING MECHANISM Arthur K. Tateishi, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

assignor to Audio Tool and Engineering Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application June 25, 1952, Serial No. 295,485

10 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to phonographs. Moreparticularly the invention relates to that type of phonographs which serves to reproduce sound from a disc type record and as its principal components comprises a horizontally disposed baseplate, a turntable over the base plate and with a depending annular flange, a pivotally mounted needle carrying tone arm in associated relation with the turntable, a single speed electric motor beneath the base plate, a comparatively large, laterally movable, horizontally disposed, spring biased idler wheel adjacent the depending annular flange on the turntable, and a three speed driving mechanism be tween the armature of the motor and the idler wheel wherebythe turntable may be selectively driven at a low speed (33 R. P. M.), an intermediate speed (45 R. P. M.) or a high speed (78 R. P. M.) depending upon the character or design of the record to be played.

One object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed phonographs and is characterized by the fact that the three speed driving mechanism between the armature of the single speed electric motor and the idler wheel is of new and improved construction, embodies a simple and novel arrangement of parts and has extremely high efliciency.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of the type under consideration in which the single speed electric motor is mounted in substantially fixed relation with respect to the horizontally disposed base plate and has a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the periphery of the idler wheel and constitutes the low speed drive of the three speed driving mechanism, and such mechanism comprises in addition to the upper end of the armature shaft a drive wheel which is mounted for vertical sliding movement on the armature shaft, has an upper small diameter part for eilecting intermediate speed drive of the turntable and a lower large diameter part for effecting high speed drive of the turntable, and is adapted, when slid partially upwards to have its upper small diameter part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and is disposed adjacent the periphery of the idler wheel and, when slid fully upwards, to have its lower large diameter part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and is disposed adjacent the periphery of the idler wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of the type and character last men-' tioned in which the drive wheel of the three speed driving mechanism of one-piece construction and has directly beneath. the lower large diameter part an integral disc-like part of materially greater diameter than said lower large diameter part, and such mechanism, in addition to the parts heretofore mentioned, comprises: (1) a collar which is fixedly mounted on the armature shaft at a small distance beneath the vertically slidable wheel; and (2) two vertically extending laterally spaced wires which have the lower ends thereof anchored to the collar and their upper ends extending loosely through diametrically opposite holes in the disc-like part of the drive wheel and serve to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft of the motor while at the same time permitting the drive wheel to be slid upwards and downwards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of the last mentioned character in which the upper ends of the two upstanding laterally spaced wires are undulatory in shape in order to provide spaced apart arcuate recesses which coact with the whole defining portions of the disc-like part of the drive wheel yieldingly to retain the drive wheel in the various positions into which it is slid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of the type and character under consideration in which the three speed mechanism for driving the turntable from the electric motor via the idler wheel embodies simple and novel manually operable cam type means for sliding the drive wheel upwards and downwards with respect to the armature shaft of the motor in order to bring the upper small diameter part and the lower large diameter part into and out of their respective operative positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph of the aforementioned type in which the manually operable cam type means for sliding the multi-part drive wheel upwards and downwards with respect to the armature shaft has associated with it automatic means whereby as a preliminary to sliding movement of the drive wheel by the first mentioned means the idler wheel is shifted laterally against the force of its spring out of engagement with the turntable flange and away from the upper end of the armature shaft in order to permitfree sliding movement of the drive wheel, and after shift of the drive wheel into one of its operative positions the idler wheel is released so that it returns by its spring to its operative position wherein it engages the turntable flange and the upper end of the armature shaft, the upper small diameter part of the drive, wheel or the lower large diameter part of the drive wheel depending upon the position of thedrive wheel with respect to the armature shaft.

A still further obieet of the invention is to pro- 3 vide a phonograph having variable speed turntable driving mechanism which is generally of new and improved construction, effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and is capable of being produced at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present phonograph will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set. forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a phonograph embodying the invention, certain parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section for purposes of illustration;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the assembly of mounting plate, electric motor, idler wheel and three speed driving mechanism;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the assembly illustrating the idler wheel in its operative position wherein the periphery thereof engages the depending flange on the turntable and the upper end of the armature shaft, the upper small diameter part of the drive wheel or the lower large diameter part of the drive wheel, depending upon the position of the drive-wheel with respect to the armature shaft;

Figure 4 is a plan view like Figure 3 except that it illustrates the idler wheel after it has been swung into its inoperative position as a preliminary to shift of the multi-part drive wheel into one of its three positions;

Figure 5 is a side view of the assembly showing the drive wheel of the three speed driving machanism in its lowermost position wherein its upper small diameter part and lower large diameter part are beneath the upper end of the armature'shaft' and said upper end of the armature shaft is operative to effect low speed drive of the turntable via theidler wheel;

Figure 6 is a vertical section of the assembly showing the drive wheel in its intermediate position wherein its upper small diameter part surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and is operative to effect through the medium of the idler wheel intermediate speed drive of the turntable;

Figure 7 is a vertical section like Figure 6 exceut that it shows the drive wheel of the three speed drivingmechanism in its uppermost position wherein the lower large diameter part surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and is operative to effect through the medium of the laterally movable spring biased idler wheel high speed drive of the turntable; and

Figure 8 is a perspective of the bifurcated plate constituting a part of the manually operable cam type means for sliding the drive wheel upwards and downwards with respect to the armature shaft.

The phonograph which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to reproduce sound from disc type records and comprises a horizontally extending, substantially rectangular base plate It, a turntable II, a tone arm I2 and, in addition, a unitary assembly 13 which, as hereinafter pointed. out in detail, serves to drive iii are provided with fixed depending legs I5 for supporting the base plate in an elevated position on the housing structure (not shown) for the phonograph. The turntable II is located for the most part within the depressed part M of the base plate l0 and embodiesonits central portion a depending hub (not shown) and on itsouter marginal portion a depending annular flange Hi. The aforementioned hub on the central portion of the turntable surrounds the base of an upstanding spindle I'! and serves to support the turntable rotatably. The depending annular flange It extends at right angles to the turntable and provides on its inner periphery a friction type driving surface. The spindle I1 is adapted to support a stack of records in elevated and centered relation with the turntable and has associated with it conventional ejector mechanism (not shown) for automatically permitting the lowermost record of the stack to drop toward the turntable after playing of a previously dropped record on the turntable. The tonearm l2 of the phonograph is disposed above the turntable and has one end thereof connected to the upper end of a pedestal l8 on one corner of the base plate It so that it is capable of swinging laterally relatively to the turntable. The distal end'of the'tonev arm is provided with a needle for engaging the sound track of the record to be played.

The unitary assembly is located under the outer portion of the turntable 'II' and comprises a mounting plate IS, an electric motor 20, a laterally movable idler wheel 2l, a vertically slidable drive wheel 22, manually operable cam type means for sliding the drive wheel upwards and downwards, and automatic means whereby as a preliminary to sliding movement of the drive wheel the idler wheel is temporarily shifted out of its hereinafter recited operative position.

The mounting plate is of the assembly i3 is in the form or" a one-piece stamping and is substantially square. It is located beneath a cutout 23 in the depressed part is of the phonograph base plate ill and embodies at its edge portions four upwardly extending right angle flanges 2E and 2? which are arranged in rectangular relation and are'shaped or contoured as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The flanges 2d and 25 are provided at the upper portions thereof with integral outwardly extending apertured cars which fit against the bottom surface of the base plate I0 and are fixedly secured to the superjacent portions of the base plate by rivets, bolts or other suitable attaching devices (not shown). The flanges 24 and 25 are positioned one opposite the other and the flanges 25 and 2? are positioned one opposite the other and extend at right angles to the flanges 24 and 25. The flange 24 is a full length flange in that it extends throughout the entire length of the mounting plate edgeportion to which it isconnected. The ends of the flanges 25 and 27 that face in the direction of the flange 2 are spaced from the ends of the flange 24. The corner portion of the mounting plate 19 that is between.

the adjacent ends of the flanges 24' and 25 is provided with an integral outwardly extending coplanar extension 28, the outer end of which is bent upwards to form an integral, right angle car 29 which is disposed in parallel relation with the flange 25. The corner portion of the mounting plate It that is between the adjacent ends of the flanges 24 and 2! is provided with an integral outwardly extending coplanar extension 30.

The electric motor 20 of the assembly |3 is disposed a small distance beneath the mounting plate is (see Figures 2 and 5) and consists of a horizontally extending, substantially rectangular, laminated stator 3|, a field coil 32 around one end of the stator and an armature 33 in an opening in the other end of the stator. The laminated stator 3| of the motor is provided at the sides thereof with a pair of upstanding posts 34, the upper ends of which are connected by screws 35 to a horizontal plate 35. The latter (see Figure 5) is disposed a small distance beneath the mounting plate N1 of the assembly and is connected thereto by members 3? of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The armature 33 constitutes the rotor of the motor and extends around, and is fixedly secured to, the lower portion of a vertically extending shaft 38. The lower end of the armature shaft is iournalled in a bearing 39 and the central portion of the shaft is journalled in a bearing it. The bearing 39 underlies the laminated stator 3| and is secured thereto by a U- shaped bracket 4| and the bearing 40 overlies the stator and is connected thereto by an inverted U-shaped bracket 42. The upper portion of the armature shaft extends through a large sized hole 33 in the central portion of the mounting plate 59 and the upper end of the shaft, i. e., the upper end extremity, terminates a small distance inwards of the depending annular flange IE on the record supporting turntable I of the phonograph. The electric motor 20 is of the single speed type and operates when electric current is supplied to the field coil 52 to drive the shaft 38 through the medium of the armature 33.

The idler wheel 2! of the assembly extends horizontally and is disposed directly beneath the turntable It is located a small distance above the mounting plate l8 and is horizontally aligned with the upper end of the armature shaft 38 and the depending annular flange IE on the turntable ii. The rim portion of the idler wheel is provided with a circumferential groove in which is seated at tire-like tread member 44' of rubber or like material having a high coefficient of friction. The idler wheel is supported so that it is movable laterally back and forth between an operative position wherein a portion of its tread member is in frictional engagement with the inner periphcry of the depending annular flange on the turntable and another portion of its tread member is in engagement with, or in close proximity to, the upper end of the armature shaft 38 of the electric motor and an inoperative position wherein such portions of the tread member 44 are a small distance away from the inner periphery of the turntable flange and the upper end of the armature shaft. The means whereby the idler wheel is supported so that it is movable laterally into and out of its operative position comprises a vertically extending post 45, a horizontally extending link 46, a vertically extending pin 41, a horizontally extending arm 48 and a vertically extending spindle 49. The vertically extending post 45 is located directly inwards of the ear equipped flange 25 and has the lower end thereof connected by a rivet or other suitable attaching device to the subjacent portion of the mounting plate IS. The upper end of the post 45 is of reduced diameter and terminates at approximately the same level as the idler wheel 2 I. The link 46 extends in the direction of the upper end of the armature shaft 38 and is provided at one end thereof with a vertically extending tubular member 50 which extends loosely around the upper end of the post 45 in order that the link is permitted to swing laterally relatively to the post. The other end of the link, that is, the end that is nearer the upper end of the armature shaft, is provided with a vertically extending tubular member 5|. The vertically extending pin 41 extends through, andis rotatably mounted in, the vertically extending tubular member 5| and is suitably held against axial displacement relatively to the link 45. The horizontally extending arm it extends substantially tangentially with respect to the upper end of the armature shaft and has one end thereof suitably fixedly connected to the lower end of the pin 41. The spindle 49 extends upwards with respect to the arm 48 and has its lower end fixedly connected to the other end of said arm. The idler wheel 2| is provided with an enlarged hub 52 and this extends around, and is rotatable with respect to, the upper portion of the spindle. A spiral tension spring 53 serves yieldingly to urge the idler wheel 2| into its aforementioned operative position. One end of the spring 53 is suitably connected to the end of the flange 2'? that is adjacent the extension 30 and the other end of the spring is suitably connected to the distal end of the arm 48. When the arm 48 is swung against the force of the spring 53 in a direction away from the flange 24 as hereinafter described, the idler wheel 2| assumes its aforementioned inoperative position wherein its tread member 44 is out of contact with the inner periphery of the depending flange of the turntable and the upper end of the armature shaft 38.

The drive wheel 22 of the assembly extends around, and is mounted for vertical sliding movement on, the upper portion of the armature shaft 58. It is of one-piece construction and consists of an upper small diameter part 54, a lower large diameter part 55 and a disc-like part 56 beneath the lower part. The disc-like part 56 of the drive wheel 22 is of materially greater diameter than the lower large diameter part 55 and has a pair of diametrically opposite holes 51 in its outer marginal portion. The drive wheel together with the upper end of the armature shaft constitutes part of a three speed driving mechanism whereby the turntable I is driven from the electric motor 20 via the idler wheel 2|, It is slidable vertically on the upper portion of the armature shaft into a lowermost position (see Figure 5), an intermediate position (see Figure 6) and .an uppermost position (see Figure '7). When the drive wheel 22 is in its lowermost position the upper small diameter part 54 of the wheel is disposed beneath the upper end of the armature shaft and such end of the armature shaft operates in connection with drive of the electric motor 20 and While the idler wheel 2| is in its operative position to drive the turntable at low speed. When the drive wheel 2| is in its intermediate position the upper small diameter part 54 surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and in connection with drive of the motor while the idlerwheel is in its operative position operates to effect intermediate speed drive ofthe turntable. When the drive wheel in its uppermost position as shown in Figure '7, the lower large diameter part 55 surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and while the idler wheel 2| is in its operative position effects high speed "drive of the turntable. The upper end of the armature shaft is of such diameter that when it is operative to efiec't low speed drive of the turntable it drives the turntable at approximately 33 R. P. M.; the upper small diameter part of the drive wheel is of such desired speed depending on the type of record that is to be played.

In addition to the parts heretofore mentioned, the assembly it comprises a collar'53 and two vertically extending laterally spaced wires over the collar. The collar 58 is disposed loosely in the large sized hole 43in the central portion of the mounting plate l9, surrounds the armature shaft 3? andis keyedor otherwise fixedly secured to the shaft to the end that it rotates therewith.

"The lower ends of the wires 59 are suitably anchored to diametrically opposite side portions of the collar Eda-rid the upper ends of the wires extend loosely th-roughthe diametrically opposite holesfEl in theouter marginal portion of the disc-like: part 56-of-the=drive wheel 22. The pur pose of the wires= 59 is to cause the drivewheel-H to rotate conjointlywiththearmature-shaft 38 while at the same timeipermitting the drive wheel to slide upwards and downwards relatively to the armature-shaft. The upper :ends of the wires 5:? are undulatory inshape in order to provide a lower pair of arcuate recesses-J68, an intermediate pair of arcuate recessesfil and an upper pair of arcuate recesses :52. When the drive wheel 22 is in its lowermost position as shown in Figure 5, the-arcuate recesses 6i] coactwi-th the hole defining portions of ithedisc-lilre part 56 yieldingly to hold the drive wheel in such position; when the drive wheel is shifted upwards into its intermediate position for intermediate speed drive of the turntable the arcuate intermediate recesses 51 coact with the hole defining portions of the disclike-part'56 yieldingly .to hold the drive wheel in such position; and when the drive wheel is shifted further upwards into its uppermost position the upper recesses-EZ-coact with the hole defining portions of said disc-lilac part 56 yieldingly tohold the drive wheel i-nv such position as shown in Figure 7.

The manually operable cam type means :for sliding the drive wheel into any of its three aforementioned positions .in order to. change as desired the driving speed of the turntable ll comprises a slide bar 63 and .a bifurcatedplate 8d. The slidebar. 5'3 isin the formv of a onepiece metallic stampingas best shown'in Figure 2 of the drawings, and overlies the: mounting plate l9. It .is locateddirectly inwards of the flange 24 of the .moun'ting plate and extends lengthwise o'f thefiange. One end of the slide bar extends sli'da'b'ly through a horizontal slot 65 in the centraluport'ionof the ear..29,wonathe outer end'of the extension 28 and the othervend of "the slide bar is bent downwards and then outwards to form an L.--shaped leg 66. The horizontal part of the leg 68 fits sl'idably against the portion of the mounting plate i!) that is inwards of the left hand end of the flange 2:1 as viewed in Figures 2, 3 and 4. A vertically extending bolt 6 extends through a hole (not shown) in the horizontal part of the L-shaped leg 66 and a slot B8 in the last mentioned portion of the mounting plate is and coacts with the slot to confine the slide bar to longitudinal sliding movement and also .to limit sliding movement of the slide bar. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the slot 68 .is disposed in parallel relation with the ,fiange 2*4 and has the outer end thereof formed in the extension of the mounting plate E9. The central portion of the slide bar is shaped to form in sequence a flat low level part 69, an upwardly inclined cam part 19, a fiat intermediate level part ll, an upwardly inclined cam part 12 and .a flat high level part it. The flat low level part so is spaceda small distance above the subjacent portion of the mounting plate 19 and is located directly inwards of the end of the slide "bar 63 that extends slidably through the horizontal slot: in the ear '29. The flat high level part 13 or the slidebar-is located directly inwards of the L-shaped leg 6.76. The upwardly inclined campart 1G extends between and connects the adjacent ends of the low level and intermediate level ,pa'rts Stand H :and the inclined cam part '12 extends'between and connects the adjacent ends of the intermediate-and high level parts ll inner corner a pair of horizontally extending,

vertically spaced fu-rca-tions M- which, as shown in Figures 5, '6 and 7, are arranged in loosely straddled relation withthe disc-like part 55 of the drive wheel :22. The outer portion of the bifurcated :platefifl, i. e., the portion that faces in the direction of the z-fiange 26, is bent at right angles in one direction and then outwards toward the flange 24 inorder to form vertically extending parts 75 and "t6. The upper end of the part 75 is bent at right angles in-the direction of the part 15 to form a horizontal lug Tl and the lower end of the'pa-rt "I6 is bent at right angles in the same direction to form a horizontal lug l8. The-outerendof the lug ll, 1. e., the end that faces in the direction of theflange 24, is bent downwards at right angles to form a vertically extending depending cam follower part 19. The outer end of the lug l8 and the lower end of the cam follower part l9 ,are in straddled relation with the inner margin of the centralportion of the slide bar 63, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7,

and consequently the bifurcated plate 64 is caused positively to slide upwards and downwards iniresponse to backvand forth sliding movement.- of the slidebar. ,The lug l8 constitutes, in effect, a second-or coating cam follower.

directly-inwards of, and extends directly lengthwise of, the flange 25. ,The central inner portion of the plate BI is cut and bent to form an upstanding inverted L shaped bracket 82-, the horizontal part of which-,extendsin the i-directioniof the flange 24 and overlies the slide bar 63. The upper end of the rod 88 fits within a hole 83 in the horizontal part of the bracket 12 and the lower end of the rod fits within a hole 84 in the subjacent portion of the plate 8|. The vertically extending part of the L-shaped bracket 83 is provided with :a vertically extending slot 85 through which the inner ends of the lugs 11 and 18 project and in which said inner ends of the lugs are slidable vertically. When the slide bar 63 is positioned so that the lower end of the cam follower part 19 and the outer end of the lug 19 are in straddled relation with the flat low level part 69 of the slide bar, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the bifurcated plate 64 is positioned so as to retain the drive wheel 22 in its lowermost position wherein, as previously pointed out, it exposes the upper end of the structure shaft so that it operates to effect low speed drive of the turntable When the slide bar 63 is slid a predetermined distance to the right as viewed in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the lower end of the cam follower part 19 first rides up the inclined cam part 18 and then comes to rest on the flat low level part of the slide bar. This results in the bifurcated plate 64 sliding upwards a predetermined distance (see Figure 6) and causing the drive wheel 22 to slide upwards into its intermediate position wherein, as previously pointed out, the upper small diameter part 54 surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and effects intermediate speed drive of the turntable. When the slide bar 63 is slid further to the right the lower end of the cam follower part 19 first rides up the inclined cam part 12 and then comes to rest on the flat high level part 13 of the slide bar. This results in the bifurcated plate 64 sliding further upwards (see Figure 7) and causing the drive wheel 22 to slide further upwards into its uppermost position wherein, as previously pointed out, the lower large diameter part 55 of the drive wheel surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and effects, through the medium of the idler wheel 2|, high speed drive of the turntable. Sliding movement of the slide bar in the opposite direction to its fullest extent results in the bifurcated plate 64 first sliding downwards to a predetermined extent and causing the drive wheel 22 to slide downwards into its intermediate position and then sliding downwards to its fullest extent and causing the drive wheel to assume its lowermost position. The extremity of the end of the slide bar that extends slidably through the slot 65 in the ear 29 is provided with a hole 86 in order that it may be connected to any suitable normally operable mechanism (not shown) for sliding the slide bar back and forth. It is contemplated that such mechanism will be mounted on the base plate so that it will be readily accessible from above.

The plate 8| is lengthwise slidable on the mounting plate l9. The end of such plate that faces in the direction of the flange 24 underlies the central portion of the slide bar 63 and is provided with tongues 81 which extend slidably through slots 88 in the lower portion of the flange 24 and coact with the slot defining portions of the flange to hold the plate against sidewise displacement while at the same time permitting the plate to slide back and forth. The other end of the plate 8| is bent upwards and then outwards to form a vertically extending part 89 and a horizontally extending part 90. The horizontal part 98 is provided with an elongated notch 9| for accommodating th low r end of the post 45.

A spiral tension spring 92 serves to urge the plate 8| in the direction of the flange 24. One end of this spring is anchored to an upstanding ear 93 on the end of the flange 25 that is adjacent the flange 24, and the other end of the spring is anchored to one of the inner corners of the horizontally extending part 90 of the plate 8|. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the inner marginal portion of the slide bar 63 is provided with notches 94, 95 and 96. The notch 94 is located at the end of the flat lower level part 69 that is adjacent the lower end of the inclined cam part 10; the notch 95 is located in the central portion of the flat intermediate level part II; and the notch 96 is located in the flat high level part 13 adjacent the upper end of the inclined cam part 12. The three notches are adapted to receive the central portion of the rod 88 when the latter is aligned with any one of them. When the pin is aligned with any one of the notches the tension spring 92 operates to urge the plate 8| together with the bifurcated plate 64 towards the flange 24. When the slide bar 63 is slid so as to disengage the pin from any one of the notches the pin together with the plate BI and the bifurcated plate 64 is slid a small distance away from the flange 24. A hole and tongue connection 91 serves automatically to swing the idler wheel 2| into its aforementioned inoperative position each time the plate 8| is shifted away from the flange 24 due to disengagement 0f the rod 86 from any one of the three notches 94, 95 and 96 in connection with sliding movement of the slide bar 63 and also to release the idler wheel so that it is swung into its operative position by the spring 53 each time the plate 8| is slid toward the flange 24 when, as previously pointed out, the rod registers with any one of the three notches. This connection, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a hole 98 in the horizontal part 98 of the plate 8| and a depending tongue 99 on the end of the arm 48 that carries the vertically extending pin 41. The tongue 99 engages the portion of the horizontal part 90 that defines the portion of the hole 98 that faces in the direction of the flange 24. When the plate BI is shifted away from the flange 24 the hole and tongue connection 91 operates through the medium of the arm 48 to swing the idler wheel 2| into its inoperative position and when the plate BI is slid by its spring 92 towards the flange 24 such connection releases the idler wheel so that the spring 53 swings the idler wheel into its aforementioned position. The rod 88, the plate 8|, the notches 94, 95 and 96 and the hole and tongue connection 91 constitutes automatic means whereby, as a preliminary to sliding movement of the drive wheel 22 by the slide bar 63 and the bifurcated plate 64, the idler wheel is shifted laterally into its inoperative position in order to permit free sliding movement of the drive wheel and, after shift of the drive wheel into one of its three positions, the idler wheel is released so that it returns by its spring 53 to its operative position wherein it engages the turntable flange I6 and the upper end of the armature shaft, the upper small diameter part 54 of the drive wheel or the lower large diameter part 55 of the drive Wheel depending upon the position of the drive wheel with respect to the armature shaft.

When the slide bar 63 is positioned as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the drive wheel 22 is positioned in its lowermost position wherein the upper end of the armature shaft 38 is operative to effect low speed drive of the turntable 11 through'the medium of the'idlerwhee'lfli. In such position of the slide bar 63 the lower end of the cam follower part 19 of the bifurcated plate 64 rests on the flat low level part of the slide bar and the central portion 01" the rod Bil is disposed in the notch 94. Asa'result of the central portion of the rod being disposed in such notch the plate 8! is shifted to its fullest extent in the direction of the flange '24 and hence the spring 53 maintains the idler wheel 2! in its operative position whereinthe tread member 4a engages the upper end of the armature shaft and the inner periphery of the depending flange E6 on the turntable. When it is desired to effect intermediate speed drive of the turntable the slide bar 63 is shifted to the right as viewed in Figures 2, 3 and 4 until the central portion of the rod 80 is aligned with the notch 95. In connection with initial shift of the slide bar the notch 94 operates by a cam action to dislodge the central portion of the rod 80 from it, thus resulting in the rod, the "plate 8|, thehole and tongue connection 91 and the arm 48 swinging the idler wheel 2| into its inoperative position wherein it is disposed a small'dista'nce away from the upper end of the armature shaft and the depending annular flange on the turntable. In connection with further shift of the slide bar the lower end of the cam follower part 19 of the bifurcated plate 64 rides upon the inclined carn part H! on the slide bar and thus, as previously pointed out, results in the bifurcated plate sliding the drive wheel 22 into its intermediate position wherein the upper small diameter part 54 of the drive wheel surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and is aligned with the tread member 44 of the idler wheel. In connection-with further right hand sliding movement of the slidebar the rod 80 becomes aligned with the notch 95 and the spring 92 slides the plate 8! towards the flange 24 thereby causing the idler wheel '21 to be swung'into its operative position by the spring 53. When it is desired to effect high speed drive of the turntable H the slide bar 53' is shifted further to the right as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In connectionwith initial sliding movement of the slide bar the rod'80 is cammed out of the notch '95 and operates as hereinafter mentioned, to swing the idler wheel 2| into its inoperative position. In connection with further right hand shift of the slide bar the lower end of the cam follower part 19 of the bifurcated plate 64 rides up on the inclined cam part 12 of the slide bar and results in the bifurcated plate 64 shifting the drive wheel 22 upwards into its uppermost position wherein the lower large diameter part 55 surrounds the upper end of the armature shaft and is in alignment with the tread member '44 of the idler wheel. As soon as the slide rod 63 is'shifted so that the rod iii! is aligned with the notch 96 the spring 92 retracts the plate 8! thereby resulting in the idler wheel 21 returning to its operative position wherein its tread memberengages the drivewheel part 55 and the inner periphery of the depending annular flange on the turntable. Predetermined sliding movement of the slide bar 63 in the opposite direction results in downward sliding movement of the drive wheel into its intermediate position and further opposite sliding movement on the part of the slide bar results in downward sliding of the drive wheel into its lowermost position. Initial shift of the slide rod in either direction from one of its three positions results in swinging of the idler wheel into its inoperative position and completion of sliding movement of the slide bar in either direction after sliding movement of the drive wheel results in automatic return of the idler wheel to its operative position. When the plate 8| slides towards the flange 24 after the bifurcated plate 84 shifts the drive wheel 22 into one of its three positions the bifurcated plate is not in gripping relation or contact with the disc-like part 55 of the drive wheel, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7 of the draw ings. The drive wheel, however, remains in its shifted position as the result of the action of the undulatory upper ends of the wires 59.

The herein described phonograph is simple in design and construction and eflicient in operation and this is directly attributable to the design, arrangement and mode of operation of the par ticular three speed driving mechanism therefor. In view of the. fact that the three speed driving mechanism of the phonograph is in the form of a unitary assembly it may be installed and removed with facility and makes it possible to produce the phonograph as a whole at a comparatively low cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at three different speeds and comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposed idler wheel mounted on said means so that it is held against vertical displacement while at the same time it is movable laterally into and out of engagement with the flange of the turntable, spring means arranged to urge the idler wheel into engagement with the turntable flange, a. single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedly on the aforesaid means and embodying an armature arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and a vertically extending armature shaft having the lower end thereof fixedly connected to the armature and its upper end terminating adjacent the idler wheel and adapted when in direct engagement with said idler wheel while the motor is in operation to eifect low speed drive of the turntable through the medium of said idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending directly around, and mounted for vertical sliding movement on, the upper portion of the armature shaft, provided with means between it and the shaft for causing it at all times to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft, embodying an upper small diameter cylindrical driving part and a lower large diameter cylindrical driving part, adapted when the upper end of the armature shaft is in direct driving relation with the idler wheel to assume a neutral position wherein its upper part is below the upper end of the armature shaft, and further adapted when slid partially upwards from its neutral position to have its upper part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds said upper end of the armature shaft and serves when in direct engagement with the idler wheel and while the motor is in operation to effectintermediate speed drive of the turntable through the medium of the idler wheel and when slid fully upwards to have its lower part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds said upper end of the armature shaft and serves when in direct engagement with the idler wheel and while the motor is in operation to effect high speed drive of the turntable through the medium of said idler wheel, and manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel up and down into its various positions.

2. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, an idler wheel mounted on said means and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, an electric motor mounted on the aforesaid means and provided wtih a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending loosely around said armature shaft, embodying in sequence a small diameter cylindrical driving part, a large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part of greater diameter than the large diameter driving part and with a vertical hole in its outer marginal part, and slidable vertically in order selectively to bring said driving parts thereof into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel vertically, a collar mounted fixedly on the, armature shaft of the motor beneath the drive wheel, and a vertically extending wire-like element having the lower end thereof connected to the collar and its upper end extending through the hole in the disc-like part of the drive wheel, and operative to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft while at the same time permitting said drive wheel to be slid vertically.

3. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, a laterally movable idler wheel mounted on said means and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedly on the aforesaid mounting means and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending loosely around said armature shaft, embodying in sequence a small diameter cylindrical driving part, a large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part of greater diameter than the large diameter part and with a vertical hole through its outer marginal part, and slidable vertically on the upper portion of the armature shaft in order selectively to bring said driving parts thereof into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel into its different operative positions, a collar mounted fixedly on the armature shaft of the motor beneath the drive wheel, and a vertically extending wire having the lower end thereof connected to the collar and its upper end extending loosely through the hole in the disc-like part of the drive wheel, operative to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft while at the same time permitting said drive wheel to be slid vertically, and having its said upper end of undulatory shape in order to provide vertically spaced arcuate recesses which coact with the hole defining portion of said disc-like part yieldingly to retain the drive wheel in the different operative positions into which it is slid.

4. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin, and a base plate positioned beneath the turntable and provided with a cut-out adjacent one portion of the turntable flange; a unitary assembly operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and comprising a horizontally disposed mounting plate connected to the base plate and extending under and across said cut-out, a laterally movable idler wheel mounted over the mounting plate and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedly beneath the mounting plate and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper portion of which extends through the mounting plate and terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending loosely around said upper portion of the armature shaft, embodying an upper small diameter cylindrical driving part, a lower large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part beneath, and of greater diameter than, the lower driving part and with diametrically opposite vertical holes in its outer marginal part, and slidable vertically on the upper portion of the armature shaft in order selectively to bring the upper and lower driving parts thereof into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel into its different operative positions, a collar mounted fixedly on the armature shaft of the motor beneath the drive wheel, and a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending wires having the lower ends thereof connected to diametrically opposite portions of the collar and their upper ends extending loosely through the holes in the disc-like part of the drive wheel, and operative to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft while at the same time permitting said drive wheel to he slid vertically.

5. In a phonograph of the type that embedies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin, and a base plate positioned beneath the turntable and provided with a cut-out adjacent one portion of the turntable flange; a unitary assembly operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and comprising a horizontal- 1y disposed mounting plate connected to the base plate and extending under and across said cutout, a laterally movable idler wheel mounted over the mounting plate and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, a single speed electric motor mounted beneath the mounting plate and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper portion of which extends through the mounting plate and terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending loose- 1y around said upper portion of the armature shaft, embodying an upper small diameter cylindrical driving part, a lower large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part be neath, and of greater diameter than, the lower driving part and with diametricall opposite holes in its outer marginal part, and slidable vertically on the upper portion of the armature shaft in orderselectively to bring the upper and lower driving parts thereof into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel into its different operative positions, a collar mounted fixedly on the armature shaft of the motor beneath the drive wheel, and a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending wires having the lower ends thereof connected to diametrically opposite portions of the collar and their upper ends extending loosely through the holes in the disc-like part of the drive wheel, operative to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft while at the same time permitting said drive wheel to be slid vertically, and having their said upper ends of undulatory shape in order to provide vertically spaced arcuate recesses which coact with the hole defining portions of said disc-like part yieldingly to retain the drive wheel in the diiierent operative positions into which it is slid.

6. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at three different speeds and comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, a laterally movable idler wheel mounted on said means and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedly on the aforesaid means and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel and is adapted when in engagement with said idler wheel while the motor is in operation to eifect low speed drive of the turntable, a rigid drive wheel extending around, and mount ed for vertical sliding movement on, the armature shaft, embodying an upper small diametercylindrical driving part, a lower large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part beneath, and of greater diameter than, the lower driving part and with a vertical hole in its outer marginal part, adapted when the upper end of the armature shaft is in driving relation with the idler wheel to assume a neutral position wherein its upper part is below the upper end of the armature shaft, and further adapted when slid partially upwards from its neutral position to have its upper part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds said upper end of the armature shaft and serves when in engagement with the idler wheel while the motor is in operation to efiect intermediate speed drive of the turntable and when slid fully upwards to have its lower part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds said upper end of the armature shaft and serves when in engagement with the idler wheel while the motor is in operation to effect high speed drive of the turntable, manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel up and down into its various positions, a collar mounted fixedly on the armature shaft of the motor beneath the drive wheel, and a vertically extending wire having the lower end thereof connected to the collar and its upper end extending loosely throughthe hole in said disc-like part, operative to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft while at the same time permitting said drive wheel to be slid vertically, and having said upper end of undulatory shape in order to provide vertically spaced arcuate recesses which coact with the hole defining portion of said disclike part yieldingly to retain the drive wheel in the different positions into which it is slid by said manually operable means.

7. In a phonograph of the type that embodies 16 a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin, and a base plate positioned beneath the turntable and provided with a cut-out adjacent one portion of the turntable flange a unitary assembly operative to drive the turntable at three different speeds and comprising a horizontally disposed mounting plate connected to the base plate and extending under and across said cut-out, a laterally movable idler wheel mounted over the mounting plate and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, a single speed electric motor mounted substantially fixedly beneath the mounting plate and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper portion of which extends through the mounting plate and the upper extremity of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel is adapted when in engagement with said idler wheel while the motor is in operation to effect low speed drive of the turntable, a rigid drive wheel extending around, and mounted for vertical sliding movement on, said upper portion of the armature shaft, embodying an upper small diameter cylindrical driving part, a lower large diameter cylindrical dl'lVil'lg part and a disc-like part beneath, and of greater diameter than, the large diameter lower driving part and with diametrically opposite holes in its outer marginal part, adapted when the upper end of the armature shaft is in driving relation with the idler wheel to assume a neutral position wherein its upper part is below the upper end of the armature shaft, and further adapted when slid partially upwards from its neutral position to have its upper part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds said upper end of the armature shaft and serves when in engagement with the idler wheel and' the motor is in operation to efiect intermediate speed drive of the turntable and when slid fully upwards to have its lower part brought into an operative position wherein it surrounds said upper end of the armature shaft and serves when in engagement with the idler wheel and the motor is in operation to eifect high speed drive of the turntable, manually operable means for sliding the drive wheel up and down into its various positions, embodying a bifurcated member mounted to move vertically and having the furcations thereof in straddled relation with the outer margin of the disc-like part, a collar mounted fixedly on the armature shaft beneath the drive wheel, and a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending wires having the lower ends thereof connected to diametrically opposite portions of the collar and their upper ends extending loosely through the holes in said disc-like part, operative to cause the drive wheel to rotate conjointly with the armature shaft while at the same time permitting said drive wheel to be slid vertically, and having their said upper ends of undulatory shape in order to provide vertically spaced arcuate recesses which coact with the hole defining portion of said disc-like part yieldingly to retain the drive wheel in the various positions into which it is slide by said manually operable means.

8. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, an idler wheel mounted on said means and normally engaging the flange of the turntable, an electric motor mounted on the aforesaid means and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending around said armature shaft, embodying in sequence a small diameter cylindrical driving part, a large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part of greater diameter than the large diameter driving part, and slidable vertically in order selectively to bring said driving parts thereof into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, and manually operable means adapted positively to slide the drive wheel into its different operative positions and embodying a horizontal stamped metal bar mounted on said mounting means to slide longitudinally back and forth and having horizontal spaced apart different level flat parts and an inclined cam part between the flat parts, and a rigid one-piece stamped metal bifurcated member extending between the bar and the drive wheel, mounted to slide vertically in a rectilinear path, having the furcations thereof in straddled relation with the outer margin of the disc-like part, and provided with upper and lower cam follower parts arranged in straddied relation with the bar and adapted to have the aforesaid parts of the bar slide between them in connection with back and forth sliding movement of said bar.

9. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supporting turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposed idler wheel positioned adjacent the flange of the turntable, an electric motor mounted on the aforesaid means and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending loosely around said armature shaft, embodying a small diameter cylindrical driving part and a large diameter cylindrical driving part, slidable vertically in order selectively to bring said driving parts into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, and having means between it and the shaft for causing it at all times to rotate conjointly with said shaft, manually operable means adapted to slide the drive wheel vertically into its different operative positions and embodying a horizontal cam type bar mounted on the mounting means to slide longitudinally back and forth and provided with laterally spaced notches in one side edge thereof, means for supporting the idler wheel so that it is movable into and out of a driving position wherein it engages the turntable flange and the driving part of the drive wheel that is in its operative position, spring means for urging the idler wheel into its driving position, and automatic means whereby the idler Wheel is moved against the force of the spring means out of its driving position as a preliminary to sliding of the drive wheel from one operative position to another and then released for retraction of said spring means at the conclusion of sliding movement of the drive wheel, said automatic means embodying a horizontal plate mounted on the mounting means to slide horizontally to and from the bar, connected operatively to the idler wheel, having spring means for urging it towards the bar, and provided with a vertical rod arranged in sliding engagement with said one side edge of the bar and adapted to coact with the notches.

10. In a phonograph of the type that embodies a horizontally disposed record-supportin turntable with a depending annular flange on its outer margin; mechanism operative to drive the turntable at different speeds and. comprising mounting means beneath the turntable, a horizontally disposed idler Wheel positioned adjacent the flange of the turntable, an electric motor mounted on the aforementioned means and provided with a vertically extending armature shaft the upper end of which terminates adjacent the idler wheel, a rigid drive wheel extending around the upper portion of said armature shaft, embodying in sequence a small diameter cylindrical driving part, a large diameter cylindrical driving part and a disc-like part of greater diameter than the large diameter driving part, slidable vertically in order selectively to bring said driving parts into operative positions with respect to the idler wheel, and having means between it and the shaft for causing it at all times to rotate conjointly with the shaft, manually operable means adapted positively to slide the drive wheel into its different operative positions, embodying a horizontal bar mounted on the mounting means to slide longitudinally back and forth, having horizontal spaced apart different level fiat parts and an inclined cam part between the flat parts, and provided along one side edge thereof and in the fiat parts with notches, and also embodying a bifurcated member extending between the bar and the drive wheel, adapted to slide vertically, having the furcations thereof in straddled relation with the outer margin of the disc-like part, and provided with upper and lower cam follower parts arranged in straddled relation with the bar and adapted to have the aforesaid parts of the bar slide therebetween in connection with back and forth sliding movement of said bar. means for supporting the idler wheel so that it is movable into and out of a driving position wherein it engages the turntable flange and the driving part of the drive wheel that is in its operative position, spring means for urging the idler wheel into its driving position, and automatic means whereby the idler wheel is moved against the force of the spring means out of its driving position as a preliminary to sliding of the drive wheel from one operative position to another and is then released for retraction by said spring means at theconclusion of the sliding movement of the drive wheel, said automatic means embodying a horizontal plate mounted on the mounting means to slide horizontally to and from the bar, connected operatively to the idler wheel, having spring means for urging it towards the bar, and provided with a vertical rod arranged in sliding engagement with said one side edge of the bar, adapted to coact with the aforesaid notches, and forming means whereby the bifurcated member is mounted for vertical sliding movement.

ARTHUR K. TA'I'EISHI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,588,807 Costa Mar. 11, 1952 2,606,451 Cole Aug. 12, 1952 

